Majority do not want outsiders' hand in local affairs

by Ananda Kannangara

A proposal to open an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombo, by UN High Commissioner of Human Rights Ms. Louise Arbour during her short visit in Sri Lanka last week was rejected by Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, maintaining that the Government has an excellent record in protecting human rights here. The Sunday Observer last week sought the views of the public on the subject.

A state sector bank executive of Nugegoda Kumuduni Manchanayaka said it human rights violations are reported it could be solved by ourselves and not by outsiders.

I reject Ms. Louise Arbour's request. A University student W. Gamage said that Sri Lanka could solve her own problems and rejected the UN's proposal.

A businessman, Anton Warnapura of Kollupitiya said, it is the duty of the Government to stop them if there is human rights violation. by enforcing strict laws against offenders,"

"If the Government fails at least to impose the death penalty on offenders, there will be a significant improvement in abductions and disappearances in the country,".

He said under such circumstances the Government will have to consider the request made the UN special representative MS. Louise Arbour.

K.B. Wijebandara wanted the UNCHR to work closely with the Lankan Government to stop human rights violations, but requested them not to deploy their monitors permanently here.

"If these monitors are deployed here, many countries in the region, especially India and Tamil Nadu will stop their assistance to curb LTTE terrorism here,".

A cinema hall owner, Lasantha Dilip Kumara of Maradana asked why the UN did not pay any attention to the human rights violations in the country during the 1988-1989 period.

"I doubt whether the UNCHR has a secret deal with the LTTE and it has led to set up a permanent office here, therefore the Government must not allow them to set up an office here,".

An engineer K.L. Balachandra of Wellawatta said he lost his son about four months ago at Bambalapitiya Beach, but no positive action was taken by law enforcement officers to trace him.

"Luckily I was able to find my son after two weeks of the abduction, due to an invaluable help given by a Sinhala television channel from their news bulletin, telecast at 7 pm and 10 pm. every day,".

He, therefore said the presence of the UNCHR in the country will greatly benefit all communities, especially the Tamils.

A Finance Manager of a reputed textile company at Bambalapitiya, Ramaiya Shanmuganathan said "I think the Government is scared over the setting up of a UN office here, because it will help to expose the country's human rights violations to the whole world,".

"If the Government is maintaining an excellent track record of protecting human rights here, why can't they allow the UN to set up their office here,".

Mrs. Sheela Periyanayagam of Dehiwala said that it was not a secret that the LTTE highly violates human rights by recruiting schoolchildren.

"But the security forces in the North or the Government do not take any viable action to stop this and this shows their inability to stop such human rights violations here.

"Therefore, I suggest Ms. Arbour's request of establishing a UN office here as both parties could not solve this problem for the past two decades,".

She proposed that the UN must set up two offices in Colombo and in the North, so that they can at least reduce the abductions to a minimum.

K. Nandakumara of Kaduwela said " I think the UN has a different objective in setting up an office here to help the terrorists to continue with their campaign,".

"Therefore, don't allow them to set an office here,".

A Pettah businessman Sumathipala Samaradivakara made a plea to Ms. Arbour not to set up a UN offices here to monitor the human rights violations.

"But the doors are always open to any UN representative to visit our country and look into human rights violations here,".

Attorney-at -law, Dimuthu Priyadharshana Lokuge of Piliyandala said "Everyday we hear about disappearances, abductions and killings in the country.

"But, I think these things cannot be stopped with establishing of an office of the UNCHR,".

Nilanka Niroshan said "Although we hear about abductions, killings and disappearances from every part of the country, almost everyday, a setting up of a permanent UN human rights office here cannot improve this situation,".

A mother of three, Veronika Ambagamuwa of Kadawatha said that human rights violations are reported from various places in the country and this situation can be minimised only by imposing the death penalty on the culprits.

Colombo University, Undergraduate W.D. Thusharika was not happy with the establishing of a UN office in the country to monitor the human rights violations.

"We have human rights problems in the country, but if our law enforcement officers take suitable measures, this kind of things can be minimised to a great extent."

Dr. Gajan Selladurai of Hatton said "Our own Tamil community are the victims of abductions and killings. Therefore, I request the law enforcement officers to punish the culprits if this is done, human right violations can be reduced to a minimum.

Aluthge Sumathipala (Truth) said that without establishing a UN office here, the Government can seek their technical assistance and the co-operation to minimise human rights violations.

A mercantile sector Executive Sumithra Nugawela of Hanwella said

"I was in Tanzania for six years with my family and during our stay, we heard only a few incidents of disappearances and abductions, because of the establishment of a UN office in that country to monitor human rights violations.

"Therefore, I suggest the Government to set up a UN office in Sri Lanka for at least two years to find out whether we can stop such acts,"

A retired Principal Dayasiri Tennekoon of Mahabage, Wattala said that lots of human rights violations are reported in Sri Lanka almost everyday. "Considering this situation, I think it is better to allow the UN to open an office here".